Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Reviews
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach continues to go against the tide of the AAA market. Abstract, cheesy, and at the same time creatively bold in its ideas, it remains not a game for everyone, but a very necessary one in an industry that feels stagnant in the realm of blockbusters. The PC version delivers highly customizable results for each player, with all the essential features in place. Even with the absence of some options, it stands as the definitive way to experience Sam’s journey — provided you have the hardware to support it.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
The franchise will likely always receive a mixed reception. The whole concept simply remains a bit strange. Is part two better than its predecessor? For many, the chances are high that it is. If only because the game plays much more pleasantly. The game has Kojima's DNA down to the deepest recesses of the code, and you have to love that. That being said, for people looking for a cinematic game, this is a good choice.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
Within the community, it is commonly believed that Death Stranding is better experienced on the PC due to its graphical enhancements, and Death Stranding 2 – On the beach will be the same, in my opinion. This title is something special and is a must-play for new players and old fans alike. Be prepared to have your breath taken away by the beauty and the horror that is Death Stranding 2: On the Beach.
Even more spectacular than the PS5 version. If you enjoyed the first one, you’re going to absolutely love this.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach remains a divisive experience, true to Hideo Kojima’s artistic vision. Months after its release on PS5 and with its PC debut, the game continues to spark debate due to its unique approach: it does not aim for instant entertainment, but rather to evoke emotions through gameplay. Kojima’s latest work stands out for its successful blend of atmosphere, storytelling, symbolism and audiovisual impact, underpinned by the excellent Decima Engine. The PC port, developed by Nixxes Software, is technically excellent: smooth performance, support for modern technologies such as DLSS, FSR and Ray Tracing, as well as extensive graphical customisation. The gameplay remains deliberately slow-paced and serves the narrative. Compared to the first instalment, environmental variety and technical quality have improved, though without revolutionising the formula. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is a unique and captivating experience, particularly for those who appreciate a contemplative pace and a strong authorial voice.
Review in Italian | Read full review
At 36 hours, I practically raced through Death Stranding 2. You could easily spend twice as long on the game. There’s plenty to do. It’s thanks to the asynchronous multiplayer and the much more accessible transport system that I was able to get through it so quickly. But also because “Death Stranding 2” no longer exudes the same fascination as the first instalment. Many elements of the story are too repetitive, and despite new transport options, the gameplay no longer exudes the same originality as it did back in 2019.
Review in German | Read full review
In a world of solitude, the connections we build are the bridges that keep us alive.
When I played the original Death Stranding, I called it a double-edged sword: you’d either fall in love with it or be unable to survive even a minute. Death Stranding 2, however, moves beyond that divisive framework. It’s designed to appeal to a wider audience, yet without abandoning the core of what made the original so distinctive.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is much more than a sequel. It's a response. It's an "I hear you" from Kojima. He refined what was already unique, added substantial content, and brought more emotion to every decision. It's not a game for everyone, just as the first one wasn't. It's slow, introspective, symbolic. However, whoever embarks on this journey will find an experience even stronger, more mature, and more personal than the previous one. It's not just about connecting the world. It's about maintaining those connections. It's about what we do with them when the silence returns. And, Kojima… yes. I know you actually read our review.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach shows significant improvement over its predecessor, demonstrating a clear maturation of its core ideas. The game delivers a narratively rich experience, with professional actors beautifully portraying profound human values. However, unnecessary missions, repetitive gameplay, and occasionally tedious segments prevent it from achieving masterpiece status. Despite these flaws, it remains a meaningful and successful sequel, poised to attract an even broader audience.
Review in Persian | Read full review
This is a world where you walk across impossible landscapes in one of the most beautiful open worlds ever, navigate tough obstacles with certain death at every turn, help strangers you'll never meet and bask in the warmth of their kindness, run into real-world celebrities when you least expect, discover and listen to new music artists from across the world, fight towering mechs made of tar, and fly over black oceans in a ship, all while having a talking doll strapped to your hip. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is a game I won't stop playing for a long time, and my second save is already underway.
If Death Stranding stood out for being unique, Death Stranding 2 feels like a more mature and polished follow-up. It fixes many flaws from the original and brings smart improvements and new features that make the gameplay more engaging and varied. At the same time, it keeps the game’s signature sci-fi world and delivers a gripping story full of mystery, emotion, and madness. In Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Hideo Kojima fully unleashes his creativity, resulting in a standout experience that’s among the best of this generation
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Death Stranding 2 streamlines a lot of the first game's rough edges, and with Kojima's typical twists and turns is makes for an overall good game. But I can't help to feel a bit disappointed at how safe this sequel was played, this streamlining removed any kind of challenge or obstacles in the game and made up for a less interesting experience overall.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Compared to the first installment Death Stranding 2: On the Beach feels like a rough diamond that still went through some polishing and now shines in its full glory. Even though it lacks a few rough edges that were present before and made the game a bit more special. The game is significantly more accessible than its predecessor, which is absolutely no bad thing, and offers newcomers a chance to jump right into the game. Anyone with a PlayStation 5 at home and looking for impressive exclusives should definitely not miss the second installment of Death Stranding. But be aware that you're in for a typical Kojima game in every respect.
Review in German | Read full review
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach takes a brave trip down under with the expected Kojima Productions gusto. With insane graphics, a cinematic soundtrack, and a narrative that doesn’t go lightly, it’s a fairly safe follow-up that easily keeps pace with its predecessor. It’s open world shines with recognisable plants and animals, yet it still glazes over indigenous and Australian culture in favour of an enviable celebrity cast. While it’s not breaking the mould by any means, it’s a thrilling romp back through the Death Stranding world.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is an uncompromising, creative triumph. It doesn’t care about trends. It doesn’t follow what’s popular. It dares to be strange, thoughtful, and different. In an industry obsessed with franchises and replicating proven game mechanics, this game feels like a gift, a creative’s vision executed at the highest level. It’s still not for everyone. It never wanted to be. But if you’re someone who values originality, emotion, and design that challenges the norm, there’s nothing else like it.
Ultimately, I was a fan of Death Stranding, but I was sceptical about Death Stranding 2: On The Beach. I just wasn’t sure the original needed a sequel after being such a unique AAA experience in a time where we don’t see much originality anymore. Thankfully, I was wrong, and Kojima Productions has delivered one of the best sequels of all time. While it may not have the complete originality of the first game, Death Stranding 2: On The Beach is a better game in every way possible.
Sam Porter Bridges returns in Death Stranding 2, a more spectacular, ambitious, and accessible adventure that makes it clear that Hideo Kojima continues to live up to his own legend. It's a fantastic title that offers action and infiltration as only Hideo Kojima knows how, but also drama and tension. And not just from the script, but when a snowstorm or thunderstorm breaks out in the middle of a delivery. The level of immersion is overwhelming, the hours fly by, and it invites you to keep playing.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is a sequel we didn’t even know we needed. Kojima once again pushes the boundaries of the video game medium—not necessarily through bombastic mechanics or action, but through an emphasis on emotional connection and an intriguing narrative structure. It’s a slow, sometimes cumbersome, yet grippingly profound journey about reconnecting the world—and in 2025, you simply won’t find a game like this anywhere else.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is an introvert’s dream complex, deliberate, and quietly cooperative. It’s a game that asks you to find your own meaning through motion, structure, and silence. If you enjoyed the original or crave slow-burn, meditative gameplay with bursts of strategic action, this sequel doesn’t disappoint. It rewards the persistent with constant surprises and ever-expanding options, even if the journey occasionally stumbles under its own weight. For those who thrive in games that feel like puzzles, planning sessions, and solo adventures laced with subtle social feedback, this is a deep and satisfying loop.